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Libertyville’s Calabresa breezes to victory in Lake County Board race
Republican candidate for the Lake County Board Carol Calabresa checks-in to vote. | Ruthie Hauge ~ Sun-Times Media
Updated: March 29, 2012 3:39PM
Long-time Lake County Board member Carol Calabresa sailed to victory in her re-election bid against Dan Donahue in a hotly contested Republican primary race in District 15.
With all 22 precincts reporting, Calabresa, 68, of Libertyville received 56.5 percent or 1,698 votes, compared to 43.5 percent or 1,306 votes for Donahue of Libertyville. The unofficial vote totals did not include early voting or voting by mail results.
Calabresa, a 25-year board incumbent, said she was gratified by the support she received during the campaign and to be re-elected to another term.
“I’m really appreciative and very grateful that after all these years they voted for me again,” she said. “It’s because of all the volunteer and donor help we’ve had all these years.”
Donahue said he was disappointed by the outcome but thankful for the support he received.
‘Hats are off’
“I did it because I thought we need a change, but apparently the majority of the voters are satisfied with the incumbent so my hats are off to her,” he said. “I think I ran an issue-oriented campaign. I was disappointed for all the people who worked so hard but life goes on.”
Calabresa and Donahue cast their ballots Tuesday morning at the same polling place at the Evangelical Free Church of Libertyville on West Austin Avenue.
Calabresa has served on the board since 1986 and is the second-longest-serving member of the County Board. She also serves on the Lake County Forest Preserve Board and was past president from 1998-2000.
For Donahue, it was his first bid for the County Board. Before moving to Libertyville about six years ago, he lived in Cook County and worked on several campaigns to help elect Republicans to the Illinois senate from 1988-2002.
County Board District 15 is composed of the village of Libertyville and part of Mundelein.
Democrat Del Parra of Libertyville ran uncontested in the Democratic primary in District 15 and will face Calabresa in the November general election.
